Looking for the latest sector news? Catch up on what’s happening across the world of funding, philanthropy, and research with the latest updates from Strategic Grants’ busy research team.
The research team at Strategic Grants spend hundreds of hours every month reviewing newsletters, funder sites, LinkedIn and many other resources to find funding and grants to update in our Grants Expertise Management System (GEMS), ensuring our clients have a strong pipeline of funding prospects. Also reviewing 100s of emails every day from funders, government departments, councils, social service collectives and more.
We also share relevant articles with the rest of Team SG as our commitment to keeping up-to-date with what’s happening across the sector here at home in Australia, New Zealand, and across the globe.
Latest sector news
Philanthropy Leadership Summit 2025
The Philanthropy Leadership Summit 2025, hosted by Philanthropy Australia took place in early August with leaders from philanthropy, the for-purpose sector and government attending. Featuring keynote speakers such as former Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, alongside plenary panels, workshops and more, it was a must-attend event for the for-purpose sector. Our own CEO and Founder, Jo Garner, attended the summit, drawing fresh insights and inspiration from the discussions, and shared her reflections in this article.
A charity roundtable, which was invitation only, took place in the same week and looked at how to boost productivity, streamline reporting and boost innovation in the sector.
After the summit, the discussions continued, and the feedback was complimentary.
Some feedback that the sector wrote about:
- People have appreciated the honesty of the speakers
- Investing in emerging leaders is one of the most enduring contributions philanthropy can make.
- Amplify stories of success.
Read more here.
Other topics we have been following
With tech entrepreneurs entering philanthropy at a phenomenal rate and including giving as part of their business plan, there has been much talk about to engage with the founders of these businesses. The Centre for Social Impact hosted a webinar, “Riding the Tech Wave: How Charities Can Positively Engage with the Innovation Generation,” exploring this topic after the release of the Australian Rech Giving Report.
Read more:
The future of charitable giving in New Zealand is a report produced by Bloomsbury Associates, a wealth management business in New Zealand. The report looks at how philanthropy needs to play a role in funding in supporting the charitable sector and how donations could be increased.
The New Zealand charitable, for-purpose and community sports sector had been waiting on bated breath to see how the federal government moved forward with the introduction of online gambling and how this would affect their funding. In October the Online Casino Gambling Bill included a section requiring a 16% duty to be paid for community funding. Local groups were concerned about the possible reduction of community funding from other gambling sources.
Read more here.
After a recent blog post regarding endowments written by an SG team member, further information has released by the sector on how foundations engage investment advisors. This report focusses on the Endowments for Impact Challenge and on the investment side of the equation.
Read more here.
Another topic we can’t get enough of is how there is a significant transfer of wealth occurring and how this impacts the for-purpose and philanthropic sector. In this article, John Hartman from Minderoo discusses, how Australia’s biggest wealth transfer is coming – and bringing unprecedented opportunities. While the Australian Environmental Grantmakers Network have released a report on the Next Generation of donors and how they are looking at getting involved in philanthropy and the charity / for-purpose sector.
Loving data and reading research from international philanthropic sources? The Barclays Private Bank and Wealth Management Wealth Milestones Trigger Significant Giving report explores the levels of wealth at which individuals are most likely to donate.
Strategic Grants has the most comprehensive funding data and funding insights in Australia and NZ collated since 2009—a sustainable and ever-growing resource that can help inform and enable collaboration and decision making to improve community outcomes for all. Find out more about GEMS (Grants Expertise Management System).
About the author
Gayle Richardson is a Research Coordinator at Strategic Grants with extensive experience in researching funding opportunities and matching prospects to projects and programs for for-purpose organisations. She has worked with local, state, and national organisations, and played a pivotal role in establishing a charity that provides support to mothers with cancer nationwide. Gayle’s expertise spans researching trusts, foundations, ancillary funds, and all grant funding opportunities ensuring the Grants Expertise Management System remains the sector’s most up-to-date resource. With a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Human Services, her career includes public service, employment services, medical research, and the for-purpose sector.